Former students: Patti Roach touched many lives

Posted: May 07, 2009    

By Sandy Rojas

Patsy "Patti" Roach touched many lives in her nearly four decades of teaching in the San Angelo Independent School District, former students said.

Roach, 80, who taught for the SAISD for 31 of the 38 years of her career, died Monday. She retired from the district in 1990 after stints at Rio Vista Elementary School and San Angelo Central High School.

Patti Tucker, a 1980 graduate of Central, reflected on the impact that the former senior English teacher had on her life.

"She was the best teacher I ever had; she was my mentor," said Tucker, who writes a marathon blog for the San Antonio Express-News. "She was no nonsense but fair and the first real woman to tell me I had it in me to do great things. She came into my life at the perfect time."

In 1988, Roach was recognized with the Texas Excellence Award for Outstanding High School Teachers from the Ex-Students Association and the College of Education of the University of Texas.

When she retired in 1990, approximately 250 friends, family members and former students gathered at the Fort Concho commissary to celebrate "Patti Roach Day." At the event, Roach estimated that she had taught 4,560 students throughout her career as an educator, which began locally at Rio Vista and continued beginning in 1960 at Central.

According to her obituary, many of Roach's former students went on to become "teachers, doctors, lawyers, professors, military officers, nurses, artists, authors and more importantly, good friends."

Standard-Times Sports Editor Charles Bryce credited Roach for his love of writing.

"I credit her for sparking my interest in writing and helping me find a positive way to channel my energy as a rambunctious teenager," Bryce said. "She loved her students, and we loved her. Later on in life, she continued to be an inspiration to all of us, young and old, through her courageous battle against cancer. She will be missed greatly, but never forgotten."

Of her battle with cancer, Tucker said, "She'd get one, beat it and then something else would come along."

Jame Highsmith, former Central counselor and current public information officer for the SAISD, said she was saddened by the news of Roach's passing.

"Patti Roach was a fabulous English teacher. She had a love of teaching English and of her students," Highsmith said. "She was the best. She exemplified the best in teaching."

Roach is survived by her husband, Henry C. Roach; son Dusty Roach; and daughter Tudi Wilson; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First Christian Church of San Angelo, where Roach was a member for more than 40 years.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/patsy-roach-obituary?pid=134666825